Reno, NV Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- RMC Chapter 14.03 (Appeals)
- Zoning check
- Required before any permit issuance
- Appeal deadline
- Permit held until appeal period ends
- Appeal body
- Hearing examiner or Reno City Council
Summary
Reno's building official withholds permits for work that violates zoning rules and won't issue any permit until appeal deadlines under the code pass with nothing filed.
The building official shall not issue a building permit for the use of any structure or part thereof which does not comply with zoning regulations.(b)The building official shall ascertain the exact location of the property on which the building is to be located to determine whether the proposed structure complies with zoning regulations including those in a special use permit, other special exception, license, or variance as applicable. (Ord. No. 5501, § 1, 9-24-03)
Sec. 14.03.060. - Time limitations on granting a building permit. The building official shall not issue a building permit until all time limits for appeal have been exhausted and no appeal has been filed.
(Ord. No. 5501, § 1, 9-24-03)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Administrative Code: Supplement 64 | Land Development Code: Supplement 5 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Reno Municipal Code Chapter 14.03 governs building permit issuance inside city limits. Before issuing a permit, the building official confirms the structure complies with zoning regulations, including any special use permit, exception, license, or variance covering the site (RMC § 14.03.040). The building official also cannot issue the permit until every appeal deadline has passed with no appeal on file (RMC § 14.03.060). Anyone denied a permit, or affected by an enforcement decision, can appeal to a hearing examiner or the Reno City Council under RMC § 14.03.080; sign-related appeals instead go through Chapter 14.16.
Violations & Fines
Requesting a permit for a non-compliant use gets it refused outright; the building official also holds all permits until every appeal window under RMC Chapter 14.03 has closed with nothing filed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How long before I get my Reno building permit?
Sources & Official References
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